After 64 years, Rabbi Lau finds the person who saved his life.

That journey ended with an Associated Press report about a recently discovered Nazi document confirming the identity of the teenager who shielded him from German gunfire when his concentration camp was liberated.

"This closes a circle of 64 years. You look for this person, to whom you owe your life, and you don't know whom to thank," said Rabbi Lau, 72. "He was my childhood hero. A man with a huge soul and a heart of gold."

Rabbi Lau had previously identified a fellow inmate, a non-Jewish Russian named Feodor, as his savior in the Buchenwald concentration camp, but he never learned the 18-year-old's full name. He said Feodor stole and cooked potatoes for him, knitted him wool earmuffs to protect him from the bitter cold and lay on top of him as gunfire erupted when the camp was liberated on Apr. 11, 1945. At the time, Lau was an 8-year-old boy nicknamed Lulek.

"Feodor, the Russian, looked after me in the daily life like a father would for a son. His concern and feeling of responsibility gave me a sense of security," Lau wrote in his 2005 autobiography.

Mikhailichenko grew so close to Rabbi Lau that he wanted to adopt him as a son. But Rabbi Lau kept his word to his murdered family and emigrated to pre-state Israel on a ship of orphaned refugee children. He lost track of Mikhailichenko and despite many efforts could never trace him again.

The mystery began to unfold in June 2008 when Holocaust researcher Kenneth Waltzer of Michigan State University discovered the man's true identity through a Nazi document he discovered in a recently opened secret archive in the small German town of Bad Arolsen. The document had been stashed away for more than six decades. Rabbi Lau first learned the full name of his rescuer through an AP report about the discovery.

Mikhailichenko returned to Russia, where he became a prominent geologist. He died of cancer in 1993 at the age of 66. But his daughters, Yulia Selutina and Yelena Belayaeva, were quickly tracked down and confirmed that their father often spoke lovingly about a young Jewish boy name Lulek in Buchenwald.

"I looked for him for decades and I never forgot him for a single day."

After last year's discovery, Rabbi Lau invited both daughters to Israel and had them at his home for dinner. There, he introduced them to many of his eight children, 50 grandchildren and five great- grandchildren. "I told them, 'all of this I owe to your father. If it wasn't for your father, none of them would exist,'" he said. "I looked for him for decades and I never forgot him for a single day."

Selutina teared up Tuesday as she accepted a medal and a certificate on her father's behalf. She said her father never forgot Lulek either, and traveled to Buchenwald a year before his death seeking information about him.

Mikhailichenko was featured in a 1992 Russian documentary detailing how he and other Russian inmates helped Lau survive by doing his chores and protecting him from the wrath of German guards.

Mikhailichenko's daughters met with Israeli President Shimon Peres on Tuesday. "There are not a lot of daughters in the world who can be as proud of their father as you can. Your father acted with ultimate humanity when he saved one soul and risked his life," Peres told them. "The entire state of Israel is proud of you and your family and will be grateful to you our entire lives."

Nearly all of the Polish-born Lau's family members were exterminated in Nazi concentration camps. Rabbi Lau's older brother Naftali cared for the young boy until the two were separated upon arrival at Buchenwald in January 1945.

Mikhailichenko was already a veteran inmate of the camp, having been arrested by the Gestapo in 1942 for robbery. He knew the ropes and watched over Lau.

When Buchenwald was liberated by American troops, Lau was among its youngest surviving prisoners. He went on to become one of Israel's most prominent spiritual leaders. He served as the country's chief rabbi between 1993-2003 and is currently the chairman of the Yad Vashem Council, an advisory board to Israel's official Holocaust memorial.

Over 22,700 non-Jews have been recognized by Yad Vashem as "Righteous Among the Nations" since the designation was created in 1963. Those include Oskar Schindler, whose efforts to save more than 1,000 Jews were documented in the film "Schindler's List," and Raoul Wallenberg, a Swedish diplomat who is credited for having saved at least 20,000 Jews.

Mikhailichenko's name is now engraved alongside theirs in a garden at the memorial honoring their roles. Rabbi Lau said Mikhailichenko proved the goodness that exists in humans, regardless of nationality, religion or gender. "You see through him that there is a chance for humanity, there is hope for the world," he said. "Feodor is a lesson of morals, of ethics, of humanity."

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Visitor Comments: 15

(15)
Avi Ickovich,
July 8, 2011 6:39 PM

My father was in Buchenwald with Rabbi Lau and knew him well

My Father was Aron Ickovich (איצקוביץ)
He and his brother Yossi were in the same barracks.
Rabbi Lau is amazing.

(14)
Curt and Christie Landry,
August 13, 2009 7:04 PM

Rabbi Lau was the best T.V. Interview I have ever done! Curt Landry

This is a great report G-d bless both families! Pastor Curt Landry. Ps Rabbi Lau's T.V. Interview was my most moving and most blessed of all our programs. My life was truly impacted my meeting Rabbi. Shalom Pastor Curt and Christie Landry

(13)
Anonymous,
August 13, 2009 4:35 PM

Rabbi Lau's autobiography

Rabbi Lau's autobiography which is only in Hebrew is a masterpiece. I read it twice and then I read his older brother Naphtali's autobiography, which was translated in English. Rabbi Lau is a fascinating character, a little boy who overcome unbelievable obstacles to become one of the greatest religious figures in today's Israel. He didn't need "afirmative action" he worked on his life and character through hardship and his success is tremendous. I'm glad he finaly found Fedor without whom he would not have been able to survive the year in Buchenwald. In the book on one of his diplomatic trips to Russia, he asked the people in government to find Fedor, but nothing came out of it.

(12)
Sonia,
August 12, 2009 8:22 PM

I started crying reading the title of the piece knowing that it would be beyond moving. I'm so happy that Feodor's daughters were found to experience the honor their father deserved.

(11)
Pesach Block,
August 11, 2009 11:49 AM

Hakaras Hatov

This amazing and emotional story depicts the character of Rabbi Lau in showing tremendous Hakaras Hatov for the ultimate gift of saving ones life. He continues to be an inspiration not only in his yidishkeit but in his humanity
(which is one and the same)

(10)
Tony Hallo,
August 11, 2009 8:14 AM

MOVED DEEPLY BY THE ARTICLE ... ... ...

For a number of years I have esteemed Rabbi Lau and listened intently to much that he has said ... ... it is a wonderful thing to know that he has at last met the daughters of his Succorer .... G-d is faithful .... we honour you Rabbi Lau ... ... ...

(9)
Malky,
August 11, 2009 2:47 AM

a true Hero

Mikhailichenko reminds me of Malach Michoel the Angel Michoel! he was truly an angel, what a beautiful and inspiring story, I'm crying too, I'm so touched

(8)
Anny Matar,
August 10, 2009 4:14 PM

Saving one soul you svae a whole world

Our dear Rav Lau, admired by thousands secular Jews, as I am, for being understanding and liberal, for being a Rabbbi of Amcha(populi).
Having saved him, ONE MAN HAS SAVED A WHOLE WORLD which Rav Lau has created.
Greatest respect for the man's deed and for restoring HOPE that there are good people in the world.

(7)
lyndon howells,
August 10, 2009 8:56 AM

God does work in mysterious ways!!!

As a christian I find this web site great for making a better understanding of most thinks Jewish,as my parish priest reminds us on a regular basis,we would have no religion at all if it were not for our Jewish brothers and sisters.
Re: the story while many millions of people turned their backs on the Jewish race it is gratifying to know that there were many Gentile individuals who were called by God to help his fellow man.
I wil not go into the argument of what The pope did or did not due to help during the war,but there was a great Irish priest(or cardinal)cannot recall his name now,but he was knicknamed the scarlet cardinal,who did great work in hiding Jews in and around the vatican.A film was made about him,so as a Christian it is sometimes good to know that we did help maybe not as much as we should have,and all those who did not have been or will be judged by OUR GOD.
Keep up the good work on this web site.

(6)
sonia,
August 10, 2009 7:13 AM

what a heartwarming story. I'm so glad Rabbi Lau found this righteous Gentile, a true mensch.

(5)
Anonymous,
August 9, 2009 3:20 PM

A truly amazing story... and what's in a name?

First, I just want to say that this is a truly amazing story. Feodor Mikhailichenko, you are certainly one awesome testament to the good of which humanity is capable.
Also, I just wanted to comment on something... "Feodor" (or, alternatively, "Fyodor," as in the great writer Fyodor Dostoevsky) is the Russian form of the name "Theodore," which means "gift of God" in Greek. Coincidence? Perhaps... but then again, Einstein also said that "Coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous."

(4)
,
August 9, 2009 2:51 PM

When I read this story in my local newspaper, I thought, if every human being did as this Russian did for H'Rav Lau when he was just a child, what a wonderful world this would be. I guess it will not happen until the time when Masiach comes.

(3)
Anonymous,
August 9, 2009 1:37 PM

The rigtheous deed leads to so much good.

Tears are streaming down my face as I read this story. I am so moved by the good deeds of this man, that did not have to risk his life to save another. And yet, his acts of goodness saved him. too, and helped him survive and become a fine human being. My family is from Poland, and most of them were killed by the evil ones. A few of them survived, one from Buchenwald, his second camp. They survived, and so I am here, to thank this great rescuer and this great rabbi for the good deeds they have done for us all.

(2)
Anonymous,
August 9, 2009 12:52 PM

Miracle of miracles: Feodor Mikhailichenko was a Ukrainian cosack from Rostov-on-Don.

Hard to believe but true. Feodor Mikhailichenko has a Ukrainian name and was born and lived in Rostov-on-Don, the heartland of Ukrainian cosacks. He must have been a Ukrainian cosack.

(1)
ruth housman,
August 9, 2009 11:21 AM

64, a circle of years

How amazing that it was a document that emerged at just the right time, to close that circle for Rabbi Lau who sought to thank this man, this most righteous Gentile.
When we look at our stories, down the years, I do believe we all see something remarkable, that miracle of connects. No, I don't think this was random. We are none of us "thread bare" when it comes to story and this is a profound weave, this garment we all wear, that is part of an interconnected story that does involves us all, through time. Pull at the gold and you will see the threads down all the years. Miracles are part of the weave and we've is for what we've all been gifted.
Eighteen, a young man aged eighteen, saves the Rabbi and chai is surely, for life!

My nephew is having his bar mitzvah and I am thinking of a gift. In the old days, the gift of choice was a fountain pen, then a Walkman, and today an iPod. But I want to get him something special. What do you suggest?

The Aish Rabbi Replies:

Since this event celebrates the young person becoming obligated in the commandments, the most appropriate gift is, naturally, one that gives a deeper understanding of the Jewish heritage and enables one to better perform the mitzvot! (An iPod, s/he can get anytime.)

With that in mind, my favorite gift idea is a tzedakah (charity) box. Every Jew should have a tzedakah box in his home, so he can drop in change on a regular basis. The money can then be given to support a Jewish school or institution -- in your home town or in Israel (every Jews’ “home town”). There are beautiful tzedakah boxes made of wood and silver, and you can see a selection here.

For boys, a really beautiful gift is a pair of tefillin, the black leather boxes which contain parchments of Torah verses, worn on the bicep and the head. Owning a pair of Tefillin (and wearing them!) is an important part of Jewish identity. But since they are expensive (about $400), not every Bar Mitzvah boy has a pair. To make sure you get kosher Tefillin, see here.

In 1944, the Nazis perpetrated the Children's Action in the Kovno Ghetto. That day and the next, German soldiers conducted house-to-house searches to round up all children under age 12 (and adults over 55) -- and sent them to their deaths at Fort IX. Eventually, the Germans blew up every house with grenades and dynamite, on suspicion that Jews might be in hiding in underground bunkers. They then poured gasoline over much of the former ghetto and incinerated it. Of the 37,000 Jews in Kovno before the Holocaust, less than 10 percent survived. One of the survivors was Rabbi Ephraim Oshri, who later published a stirring collection of rabbinical responsa, detailing his life-and-death decisions during the Holocaust. Also on this date, in 1937, American Jews held a massive anti-Nazi rally in New York City's Madison Square Garden.

In a letter to someone who found it difficult to study Torah, the 20th century sage the Chazon Ish wrote:

"Some people find it hard to be diligent in their Torah studies. But the difficulty persists only for a short while - if the person sincerely resolves to submerge himself in his studies. Very quickly the feelings of difficulty will go away and he will find that there is no worldly pleasure that can compare with the pleasure of studying Torah diligently."

Although actions generally have much greater impact than thoughts, thoughts may have a more serious effect in several areas.

The distance that our hands can reach is quite limited. The ears can hear from a much greater distance, and the reach of the eye is much farther yet. Thought, however, is virtually limitless in its reach. We can think of objects millions of light years away, and so we have a much greater selection of improper thoughts than of improper actions.

Thought also lacks the restraints that can deter actions. One may refrain from an improper act for fear of punishment or because of social disapproval, but the privacy of thought places it beyond these restraints.

Furthermore, thoughts create attitudes and mindsets. An improper action creates a certain amount of damage, but an improper mindset can create a multitude of improper actions. Finally, an improper mindset can numb our conscience and render us less sensitive to the effects of our actions. We therefore do not feel the guilt that would otherwise come from doing an improper act.

We may not be able to avoid the occurrence of improper impulses, but we should promptly reject them and not permit them to dwell in our mind.

Today I shall...

make special effort to avoid harboring improper thoughts.

With stories and insights,
Rabbi Twerski's new book Twerski on Machzor makes Rosh Hashanah prayers more meaningful. Click here to order...